Sneak Peek Sunday by Vonnie Davis

Welcome to my segment of Sneak Peek Sunday, where various authors share six paragraphs from either a published work or a work in progress. Just enough to entertain, to entice, to spark your curiosity.

Today I'm sharing from my historical novella set in a fictional town of Cicero Creek, Wyoming Territory, shortly after the Great Fire of Chicago in 1871. A MAN FOR ANNALEE is a "sweet" romance with a feisty heroine and a hero who finds her both comical and annoying.

Here's my six. The opening scene of the book that literally starts with a bang...

Gunfire jarred Annalee Gallagher. She straightened in her seat, her heart pounding. Another bullet zinged past the stagecoach, and the older couple sitting across from her gasped in unison. Heaven help her, she’d escaped one nightmare only to find herself in the middle of another. 

The broad-shouldered man who’d been drowsing against her jerked upright and drew a pistol from his holster in a blur so fast Annalee wondered if he hadn’t been holding it all along.

 

He fired six shots out the window before leaning back to reload. “Think I winged one.” Was he speaking to himself in affirmation or bragging to the occupants of the stagecoach?  

One thing for sure, though, Annalee wanted a look at the gunmen. Did they resemble the criminals in her dime novels? She slowly leaned toward the open window next to her. Surely one peek wouldn’t hurt. Thus far her journey from Chicago to Cicero Creek, Wyoming Territory had been blessedly uneventful. She’d met none of the miscreants and bloodthirsty Indians written about in her books, so the thrill of living through a stagecoach robbery, like those in stories she’d read, warred with her sense of self-preservation. 

If she’d had her wits about her, she’d be afraid, or so she told herself as she glanced out of the window, hoping to see the highwaymen. With her mind and heart so absorbed with grief this past week, this incident, no matter how perilous, was a welcome respite. 

The gunmen were out of her line of vision, but the pounding of their horses’ hooves grew closer. More shots rang out. The stagecoach driver cracked his whip and bellowed an order to the team of horses. “Hi-ya! Go! Go!” The stage swayed precariously as it accelerated over the bumpy road. Gritty dust blew into the coach with such force the air seemed alive with it.

 

BUY LINK:

Amazon ~ http://www.amazon.com/Man-Annalee-Vonnie-Davis-ebook/dp/B00E4WJ5VA/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1393727946&sr=1-1&keywords=a+man+for+annalee

 

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SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

 

A "Magic Moment" with Angela Adams

Today I have the pleasure of featuring Angela Adams, who writes and reviews contemporary romances. Her work has appeared in Romance at Heart, Oysters and Chocolate, and The Long and Short Reviews. In December 2011, Whimsical Publications published an anthology, Winter Wonders. Ms. Adams' short story, "Burgers and Hot Chocolate," was among the collection. Now she's here to talk about her book -- Magic Moment. Don't you love the title? Angela has agreed to answer some of my questions.

Thank you, Vonnie, for inviting me today.  I’m a frequent reader and often a commenter on Vintage Vonnie.  It’s a thrill to be featured. 

         1.   Do you ever dream of writing in a different genre?

Sometimes I think I would like to write a children’s book (but I can’t seem to come up with an idea).  My favorite children’s story is The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams.  I love that story.  Almost all children have a stuffed toy that makes them feel secure.  Although the item they’re holding is just a soft and cuddly object, the security and contentment that they feel is real.  Just as the rabbit is real at the end of The Velveteen Rabbit.

 

2.   What part of the writing process brings you the most pleasure? The most angst?

 

The most pleasure is when I read a scene, and I feel it’s working.  The most angst is the first draft.  When I stare at the computer screen and nothing is coming out.  My mind wanders.  It’s very frustrating.

 

But, once I get the first draft down and start the revisions…I enjoy revising…and, feedback.  I love feedback, positive or negative.  Magic Moment was entered in several contests.  One judge made an excellent case that Chase wasn’t likeable until the third chapter.  I felt Chase needed to be liked a lot sooner, so my first three chapters were redone.

 

Obviously, I had made a good decision because after those revisions, I sent the manuscript to Crimson Romance.

 

    3.   What are you currently working on? 

I started a story about two years ago – more of an “inspirational warm and feel good” not a “Romantic Suspense.”  But, it’s so ironic, I write a few chapters then something happens to take me away from the book – like Crimson accepting Magic Moment, then the edits for Magic Moment, now the promotion.  Hopefully, I’ll be able to get back to it soon.

 

   4.   Tell us about your current release

I started to write Magic Moment about four years ago.  I’d already had the idea for a hero who was going through life believing he has to be the type of person others want him to be, rather than the person he wants to be.  Chase is a man who grew up torn between a self-centered, unprincipled father and compassionate, selfless mother.

Then, a colleague of mine, who also has three children, said she wished that her family could live on only her husband’s income and that she didn’t have to work.  Since she had to have a full-time job, she mentioned some important milestones she had missed in her kids’ lives.  For example, her oldest daughter took her first steps in day care.  She said she would be happy being a lunch mom at her daughters’ school and going to PTA meetings.      

Some of our colleagues scoffed.  I couldn’t see anything wrong with her feelings.  Her sadness over those missed moments kind of tugged at my heart.  Those comments influenced Laura, a woman who never aspired for a high-power career, but a simple life as a wife and mother.

Bringing the FBI into their lives, and sending the couple on the run, I threw in for twists and turns.  My television viewing is basically police dramas and soap operas.  The most successful romances are the ones littered with suspense.

Blurb:

When the FBI brings Laura Roberts – a quiet, reserved bookkeeper– in for questioning regarding activities at the warehouse where she works, an uneasy Laura resigns her job – only to be attacked by thugs.

 

Chase Donovan intends to spend a few peaceful days on his boat getting his head together – and finds a woman being assaulted by two men who say his father told them to do it.

Chase doesn’t want to believe his father could hurt anyone. Laura doesn’t understand why she’s a target. Can they learn to work together to discover the truth – before someone dies?

 

 

Excerpt:

As she opened the cabin door, a pleasant, tangy sea breeze tickled her senses.  Stiff limbs hindered her movements, but she climbed the stairs to the deck.  The sun blazed in the clear blue sky.  The boat teetered, alone, in a vast mass of water.  A brisk chill nipped the air, and Laura hugged herself.

 

“Chase,” she called.  No answer.  She called his name again, this time her voice having an edge.

 

He wasn’t in the wheelhouse.  She darted back down the stairs.  If he had been moving around in the bathroom or “head” as he had called it, she would have heard him.

 

“Chase.” Panic gripped her. “Chase.”

 

Her heart pounding, she ran through the narrow corridor and stopped dead in the eating area.  Propped up on the stool, he was asleep at the bar with a half-filled liquor bottle and an empty glass.  His head rested on folded arms, his breathing deep.  A laptop was also on the bar.  The monitor was dark, but the yellow light blinked.  Laura hit the space bar and print appeared on the screen.  Several windows had been minimized.

 

Clicking on one minimized window, she skimmed the on-screen print and gasped, amazed at the words she read.  She clicked another window and saw a search engine page. Chase had been reading articles on women who had been assaulted.  Her eyes scanned the list of titles.  He had wanted to understand, wanted to know how he could help her.  From what she had observed of Chase in the last three years, she never guessed he had this sensitive, compassionate side to his personality.  Her perception of Chase had been that of a friendly, but overindulged, self-absorbed playboy.

 

Who would have guessed?

 

Blog: http://www.authorangela.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorangela

STORM'S INTERLUDE nominated for Book of the Year

Imagine my thrill when I found out my debut book was nominated for Book of the Year at Long and Short Reviews. Every year they open their site for readers' votes on romances LASR ranks as the best. I was thrilled to be included on the list.

STORM'S INTERLUDE was at the head of the pack for a few days and then fell to number two. Now, sadly, it's at number three.

I was devastated when it lost it's first place ranking. I confess to wanting that title: Book of the Year for 2011 at Long and Short Reviews. Yeah, you could say my ego got in the way. We all yearn to be the best, don't we? Calvin, being the supportive husband, rubbed my back and said, "At least you were nominated. How many romance books were?"

"Thirty-eight." I swiped at a falling tear, feeling somewhat chagrined I was getting so emotional over a mere title. Really, in the scope of everyday life, what does a title mean? Not much when stacked against current events, illness and personal trials. For right now, my life is so charmed compared to many others battling demons and personal problems.

Take my hero's twin sister, Sunny. A single mother with a three-year old son, Sunny is battling leukemia. Her first round of chemo failed. Now she needs help to regain her strength so she can go through a second round. Seeking someone who might give her that edge she needs, she hires my heroine Rachel to come to the ranch and work with her. Rachel has a Masters in nursing and has also studied acupuncture, raiki, massage therapies and other non-traditional healing methods. She combines them--with the approval of the patient's doctor--to strengthen her patients.

Storm, the protective brother, is not too keen on all this healing "mumbo-jumbo" so he's determined to keep an eye on Nurse Rachel, which turns out to be esier than NOT watching her. In fact, she consumes his every waking and sleeping moment.

Allow me to share a scene around the kitchen table at the ranch. Rachel has just shared the results of Sunny's latest blood tests to Sunny, Storm, Jackson a love interest of Sunny's and the family's housekeeper, Noella. The cancer is no longer progressing...

“We should celebrate.” Storm was grinning. A jovial air had permeated the kitchen.

“No booze.” Jackson held his hand up in a stop gesture. “I promised Noella I’d slow down and I have. Been gettin’ drunk on love lately.” He gazed at Sunny and winked. She beamed a smile.

Storm glanced at Noella, who was giving him a warning look. “No, I was thinking of that apple pie I smelled when Sawyer and I got back from our ride. I say we live dangerously and have it for lunch, not dinner.”

           “Wif ice cream!” The child’s eyes were wide. His sweet enthusiasm, infectious.

Noella laughed. “Si, my darling boy. With ice cream. Your Unkie Storm has a good idea. Now eat all your lunch so you can have the special dessert.”

Storm turned to Rachel. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think of your diabetes. Can you have pie and ice cream?”

She shook her head. “I’d love it, believe me, but I shouldn’t have more than a bite.”

“I’ll share a bite with you. You’re part of the reason we’re celebrating, after all. Besides, no one makes apple pie like our Noella. She uses apples grown here in her orchard.” He turned to his sister. “How are you feeling? Not too tired, I hope.”

            “Are you kidding? For the first time in months, I feel alive. Rachel and I potted some plants after breakfast. Healing herbs, she calls them. I swam. Got some sun. Had a marvelous massage. You should have Rachel give you one.” She smiled at her brother, and Rachel could have sworn there was a tinge of mischievousness in her patient’s eyes. “Rachel has fabulous hands. Bet she could do wonders with your body.”

            Storm had just taken a drink of iced tea. He choked.

            “Goodness!” Sunny beamed, spearing a cherry tomato with her fork and holding it in front of her mouth. “Was it something I said?”

            The pie a la mode was served. When Storm laid his arm across the back of Rachel’s chair and brought a spoonful of the dessert to her mouth, she held up one finger. “Okay, but one bite is all I can eat.” She closed her eyes and opened her mouth. Sweetness of sugar, the tartness of apples, cinnamon, nutmeg and the cold of ice cream landed on her tongue. It had been ages since she’d indulged. The tastes mingled and melted.

            She savored, swallowed and moaned. “Heaven. That was so good it made my toes curl.” She slowly opened her eyes and stared into the piercing gaze of midnight eyes. Storm was watching her as if he were measuring and mentally recording every nuance of her reaction. “Why…why are you staring at me like that?”

            His eyes never left hers as he extended a long finger and swiped a chunk of apple from her lower lip. “I’ve never seen anyone enjoy something so much.” He held up his finger. “Here, you missed a piece of apple.”

            Rachel coiled her hand around his wrist and brought his finger to her mouth. She sucked the fruit from his finger, twirling her tongue around his skin. Storm’s eyes swept shut and he groaned. For a brief second, she enjoyed the sensual power her mouth exacted over him.